This Toilet Tuesday (3/28/17)
Welcome once again to This Toilet Tuesday! The bowl continues to overflow with new music, and we’ve been scrambling to contain it. Bert Banana, DumpsterLung, and I got a hold of some of the chunkier nuggets, but there’s no way we can cover it all ourselves. Pick out something from that list below and share it in the comments.
Gorod – Kiss the Freak (Independent) [Tech Thrash]
Listen to “Being A Jerk”
Normally, I’d go off on a tangent and talk about something completely unrelated to the album/track at hand but in this case, I’m going to cut the shit. This shit is dope as fuck. It’s not surprising because Gorod is the tits. I love how they can go into a studio, fuck around (literally fuck around, because there is nothing “serious” about this apart that it seriously rips) and record a thrash EP in less than a month that will likely sound better than whatever the fuck Havok put out. Sure this is based off one song but you know what, Gorod is consistent enough that you can put a little bit of blind faith into them. I get a heavy Revocation vibe circa Chaos of Forms from “Being a Jerk.” May as well name drop Nylithia and Exmortus while we’re at it, especially in the speed/energy department (and non-Mustaine inspired vocals). We live in a cruel world where Gorod is opening for Warbringer and Havok. One day, Gorod…you will have the glory you deserve. Also, I just want to remind you that the EP is only 10 Euros and has free shipping if you order before April 1st. Can’t fuck with that. 4/1/17 (Bert Banana)
VI/Temple of Baal/The Order of Apollyon – VI/Temple of Baal/The Order of Apollyon (split- Agonia Records) [Black/Death Metal]
Preview
I was introduced to VI sometime last year (yeah, I know…I’m late to the party) and they quickly consumed my life. De Praestgiis Angelorum still gets fairly regular spins from me. It has a great blend of apocalyptic atmosphere and sheer chaos. I’m not completely familiar with Temple of Baal and The Order of Apollyon (retroactive Bert Banana addendum: Apollyon is rad af) but from what I can tell, both are blackened death, with the former as a Destroyer 666/Vader combo and the latter is more early Behemoth. As for what to expect from the split: based off the teaser, you’re probably not going to get anything out of the ordinary from these bands. If you’re unfamiliar with these bands and are curious about french black metal, this could be a great way to sample these acts. If you’re a fan of any of these bands, it’s likely going to be a cocktease. At least it comes in a cool laser etched record though, right? 3/31/17 (Bert Banana)
Mastodon – Emperor of Sand (Reprise Records) [Prog Metal/Rock]
Listen to “Sultan’s Curse,” “Show Yourself,” “Andromeda”
Arguably the biggest release of the week. I love the majority of Mastodon’s work. Despite how much I ended up loving The Hunter and Once More Round the Sun, I’ve gone into both albums with a sense of skepticism. The same can be said for Emperor of Sand. I can’t remember for the life of me when the last time was I actually enjoyed single by Mastodon before listening to the album in full. Perhaps Crack the Skye. Of the 3 songs released, “Show Yourself” was probably the song I enjoyed the most – the obvious radio single. It’s got a bit of an upbeat alt-rock sound to it. I guess it helps that I’ve been listening to that style lately. Both “Andromeda” and “Sultan’s Curse” have a darker sound, with the former being the better of the two. I think “Andromeda” has a vibe that seems to be a combination of the sounds they have been playing with for the last three albums. “Sultan’s Curse” reminds me of a combination of Leviathan and Crack the Skye but I don’t really find it that interesting. I feel, given how far they’ve evolved their sound over the years, that it doesn’t really do them a service to revisit that era anymore. It’s a similar situation to Metallica. As much as we would like an album similar to the classics, it would be rather difficult to repeat the impact those album have and it would only negatively impact the reception of the newer works. With all that said, I will have to give this a bunch of spins because at the end of the day, it’s the context that matters. I disliked a lot of Mastodon singles on first listens but once I have the album spinning, they tend to make more sense and I begin to appreciate them more. So I’m holding out hope until I have the album in my hands. 3/31/17 (Bert Banana)
Horns & Hooves – Morbid Lust (Stygian Black Hand) [Black/Speed Metal]
Listen to “Morbid Lust”
With a name like “Horns & Hooves” and an EP titled “Morbid Lust,” you’d assume this band plays some combination of black and thrash metal, and you would absolutely be right. What you might not assume, however, is that Horns & Hooves, while only having released a single demo last year prior to this upcoming EP, seem poised to really make a name for themselves among the tons of similarly themed artists out there. You probably also have a general sense for the sort of atmosphere H&H employs on this EP, but it still bears mentioning that they seem to fall on the meaner, darker side of the spectrum, adhering to an old-school black metal sound and feeling throughout, whereas you might say that a band like Midnight leans toward the other end of the spectrum, embracing a feeling of excess and fun beneath the morbid aesthetic. Horns and Hooves are definitely still fun, but feel much more like a classic black metal band first and foremost. Speaking of classic, you could easily mistake this EP for some hidden gem from 25 years ago. Morbid Lust is produced well, with a vintage sound that doesn’t sacrifice the clarity of any instruments or vocals (even the bass, which is surprisingly audible), but what really does the trick is the guitar tone. It really has a classic feel to it, which especially shines during lead work and solos. Bottom line: I’m really enjoying this EP a whole lot, and if you like this sort of thing at all, you really can’t go wrong with this one. 3/31/17 (DumpsterLung)
Satan’s Hallow – Satan’s Hallow (Underground Power) [Heavy/Power Metal]
Listen to “Beyond the Bells,” “Hot Passion”
I saw Satan’s Hallow labeled by some as “heavy/power metal” and despite my knee-jerk reaction to skip most anything labeled power metal, the name intrigued me (possibly because it seemed to fit thematically with the other band I wrote about this week, Horns & Hooves). I’m glad I decided to check these guys out though, because it ended up being some great traditional/speed metal that I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I might. This is Satan’s Hallow’s first full-length, and while there are only 2 songs currently streaming that I could find, it also contains the 2 songs from their previous demo, so that makes 4 of the total 9 songs on this album that I’ve heard so far, and I definitely look forward to hearing the rest. Satan’s Hallow play straight-up heavy metal: quick and lean. I’ve been admittedly remiss in keeping up with modern trad bands, but a few I’ve heard lately have just not really done it for me. Either they came off a bit too close to power metal for my taste, or they lacked in some department musically (most likely the vocals). Fortunately, Satan’s Hallow deliver on both fronts. I mentioned the musical style already, but the band’s performance, particularly that of the singer, is also top-notch. Satan’s Hallow has a female singer, by the way, and while I’m struggling to think of a good point of reference in a modern band (all that’s coming to mind at the moment are bands on the doomier side of the spectrum), early Warlock (Doro Pesch) might not be a bad comparison. If that didn’t get your attention, then just give the album a listen and hear for yourself. Fast riffs, great solos with tons of guitar harmonies, great vocals, and tight performances all-around from the entire band make for a very compelling package. 4/1/17 (DumpsterLung)
Tyranex – Death Roll (GMR Music Group) [Thrash/Speed Metal]
Listen to “Death Roll”
If you’ve been feeling underwhelmed by the bigger thrash releases of late, then let me suggest an alternative by way of Tyranex, assuming you don’t mind some a lot of speed metal mixed in. “Death Roll” is the only full song I could find, but it had me sold a mere 40 seconds in. Linnea Landstedt’s vocals are front and center on this track, blending her glorious soprano wailing with a vicious snarl in equal measure. The solos are similarly righteous, with big soaring melodies and some great shred. If this generous teaser is anything to go by, the album as a whole will follow similarly; there is no shortage of riffs to be had here. 3/31/17 (Spear)
Abatuar – Perversiones de muerte putrefacta (Dunkelheit Produktionen) [Blackened Death Metal]
Listen
Aeons of Silence – Transcendence of Spiritual Lifeforms (Independent) [Melodeath]
Stream
Aiμα/Supremative – Blood Chalices from the Impure (split- Blood Harvest Records) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Triumphant Vengeance of the Antichrist” (Supremative)
Astral Doors – Black Eyed Children (Metalville) [Heavy Metal]
Bereft – Lands (Prosthetic Records) [Doom]
Stream
Beyond Description – The Robotized World (Punishment 18 Records) [Thrash]
Beyond Fallen – As the Spires Fall (Underground Power) [Heavy Metal]
Listen to “The Great Distance”
Birth of Depravity – From Obscure Domains (Dismembered Records) [Brutal Death Metal]
Listen to “Enhanced Pestilent Conquest,” “To Bear Witness”
Blessed Curse – Beware of the Night (M-Theory Audio) [Thrash]
Listen to “Nightbreed”
Bloodrocuted – For the Dead Travel Fast (Punishment 18 Records) [Thrash]
Listen to “For The Dead Travel Fast”
Body Count – Bloodlust (Century Media Records) [Hardcore]
Listen to “No Lives Matter,” “Black Hoodie”
Burial Ground – Threat from the Darkness (Independent) [Black/Thrash]
Stream
Calliophis – Cor Serpentis (Solitude Productions) [Death/Doom]
Listen to “The Cleansing”
Chronosphere – Red n’ Roll (Punishment 18 Records) [Thrash]
Listen to “Picking Up My Pieces”
Claymorean – Sounds from a Dying World (Stormspell Records) [Power Metal]
Listen to “Old Mountain,” “Rage of the White Wolf”
Crimson Dawn – Chronicles of an Undead Hunter (Punishment 18 Records) [Doom]
Listen to “The Skeleton Key”
Dark Matter – Wood Lane (Independent) [lolbuttz]
Listen to “King of Colours”
Death Control – Awaiting Us All (Great Dane Records) [Death Thrash]
Stream
Death of Kings – Hell Comes to Life (Boris Records) [Thrash]
Listen to “Hell Comes to Life”
Diabolical Messiah – Demonic Weapons Against the Sacred (Dark Descent Records) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Unmerciful Campaign of Hate”
Doctor Cyclops – Local Dogs (Heavy Psych Sounds) [Doom]
Listen to “Lonely Devil”
Endezzma – The Arcane Abyss (Pulverised Records) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Morbus Divina”
Falls of Rauros – Vigilance Perennial (Nordvis/Bindrune) [Black Metal]
Listen to “White Granite”
Fate Unburied – Logos (Sliptrick Records) [Metalcore]
Listen to “It’s Late!”
Fragile Vastness – Perception (Independent) [Prog Metal]
Grauzeit – Symbiose (Independent) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Abseits”
Gruesome – Fragments of Psyche (Relapse Records) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Fragments of Psyche,” “Psychic Twin (Demo)”
Gyze – Northern Hell Song (Universal Music) [Melodeath]
Listen to “Northern Hell Song,” “Pirates of Upas,” “The Bloodthirsty Prince”
Hyban Draco – Storms of Desolation (Winter Demons) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Nowhere Lights”
Imber Luminis – Nausea (Naturmacht Productions) [DSBM]
Listen
Impavidus – Eradication of Mankind (Independent) [Groove/Death Metal]
Listen to “Lies”
In Chasms Deep – As the Wicked Burn Below (Independent) [Blackened Deathcore]
Listen to “Hoard of Riches”
Karonte/Bloody Brotherhood – Alliance for death domination (split- Dead Sheep Productions) [Death Metal]
Kaunis Kuolematon – Vapaus (Haminian Sounds) [Melodeath/Doom]
Listen to “Tuhottu elämä”
Killing Age – Devil’s Child (Gegentrend Records) [Groove Metal]
Listen to “Devil’s Child”
Lava Invocator – Mörk (Satanath Records) [Black Metal]
Stream
Mantar – The Spell (Nuclear Blast Records) [Sludge]
Listen to “The Spell”
Mastema – Golden World (Via Nocturna) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Tanathosphere”
Medico Peste – Herzogian Darkness (WTC Productions) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Hallucinating Warmth and Bliss”
Milking the Goatmachine – Milking in Blasphemy (NoiseArt Records) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Farm of Northern Darkness,” “Nemesis Bettina”
Morast – Ancestral Void (Totenmusic/Van Records) [Blackened Death/Doom]
Listen to “Crescent,” “Compulsion”
Morbid Defecation – Official Promo 2017 (Independent) [Brutal Death Metal]
Stream
Necroblood – Collapse of the Human Race (Iron Bonehead) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Glorification Through Destruction”
Nightrage – The Venomous (Despotz Records) [Melodeath]
Listen to “The Venomous,” “Affliction” (probably NSFW)
OHHMS – The Fool (Holy Roar Records) [Post-Metal/Doom]
Listen to “The Magician,” “The World”
Regurgitate Life – Obliteration of the Self (Truthseeker Music) [Death Metal]
Stream
Rhegency – Invisible Blood (Independent) [Heavy Metal]
The Ritualist – Hell’s Doom Eternal (I Hate) [Doom]
Listen to “Awaken the Eibon”
SadDolls – Blood of a Kind (Trisol/Darktunes) [Gothic Metal]
Listen to “Cold Blood Inside”
Saħħar – Kliem it-Tmiem (Independent) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Awtopsja”
Seelenfrost – Des Mondes Staub (Talheim Records) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Im Dickicht,” “Brach”
Show of Bedlam – Transfiguration (Sentient Ruin/Dawnbreed/PRC) [Sludge]
Preview
Sincarnate – In Nomine Homini (Hatework) [Death/Doom]
Listen to “Curriculum Mortis”
Sinner – Tequila Suicide (AFM Records) [Heavy Metal]
Listen to “Tequila Suicide,” “Battle Hill”
Slagmaur – Thill Smitts Terror (Osmose Productions) [Weird Black Metal]
Listen
Trance – The Loser Strikes Back (Rockport/Rough Trade) [Heavy Metal]
Listen to “Star Invaders”
Vacivus – Nuclear Chaos (Goatprayer Records) [Death Metal]
Stream
Warbringer – Woe to the Vanquished (Napalm Records) [Thrash]
Listen to “Silhouettes,” “Remain Violent”
While They Sleep – Les fleurs du mal (Symbol of Domination) [Black Metal]
Listen to “The Portrait”
Did we forget a new release? Is there a way we could improve this list? Let us know in the comments below!
(Images VIA, VIA, VIA, VIA, VIA, VIA)
